Auxiliary starting engine for locomotives



ec. Z 9 1924- 1,517,262 c. F, STREET AUXILIARY STARTING ENGINE FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed Feb. 21, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l l0 z I? l0 1| /9 0 s I Q w C. F. STREET, AUXILIARY STARTING ENGINE FOR LOCOMOTIVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jil 2, 1924.

Filed Feb. 21 1922 ATTORN Mil Patented Dec. 2, i924.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT a citizen of the UnitedStates, residingat l reenwich, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a cer' lain new and useful Improvement in Auxiliary Starting Engines for Locomotives, of which improvement the following is a speci fication. i

' This invention relates to auxiliary engines or power mechanism for assisting in starting locomotives, or for assisting the main engines of the locomotive in propelling the same. up steep grades or at other times of heavy duty.

In my prior application Serial No. 455,- 037, filed March 24:, 1921, I have shown and described an improved starting device "for locomotives, and comprising an engine cylinder with a piston and valve mechanism, whereby the piston is reciprocated under the action of steam pressure in one direction, and by the force of a spring on the return stroke, the piston rod being connected to operate a pawl and ratchet mechanism for turning one of the axles.

One of the objects of my present invention is to improve the action of the spring upon the piston and also to locate the spring where it is more readily accessible for ad justment, inspection, and repair. Another object is to improve and simplify the construction of the pawl and ratchet mechanism. V

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a view, partly in side elevation, and partly in section, illustrating a locomotive starting device embodying my improvement; Fig. 2, a view of the same, partly in horizontal section and partly in plan; Fig. 3, an end elevation; and, Fig. 4, a transverse section [alien on the line l-4 of Fig. 2.

According to the construction shown in the drawings, the auxiliary motor or starting engine comprises the cylinder, 5, containing piston, 6, with red, 7, for actuating the pawl and ratchet mechanism, a suitable valve operating in casing, 8, and having stem, 9, provided with nuts, 10, and spring, 11, serving as tappets to be actuated by the bar, 12, mounted on the piston rod, v7, for operating the valve to automatically control the supply of steam to one side of the piston and the exhaust therefrom, this 0011-.

F. STREET,

Application filed February 21, 1922. Serial No. 538,353,

struction being similar to that described in my prior application above mentioned.

According to my present improvement, the spring, 13, which is employed to sheet the return stroke of the piston, instead of being located within the cylinder, is mounted on the outside of the latter and operates through a power multiplying connection to oppose the outward movement of the piston and eifect the return stroke thereof.

As shown in the drawing, the spring, 13, bears against the short arm of lever, 14, which is pivoted upon a bracket, 15, mounted on the cylinder and has its long arm operatively connected to the piston, 6, by extending into an opening in the piston rod, 7, where it bears against a roller mounted on a pin, 16. The other end of the spring, 13, is held by the adjustable screw, 17, by which the tension of the spring may be adjusted as desired, the screw being mounted in a suitable bracket, 18, supported on the cylinder.

The piston rod is provided with suitable shoes, 19, mounted to slide in the guides, 20, rigidly supported on the cylinder, and is connected at its outer end by pivot pin, 21, with the oscillating arm or arms, 22, rotatably mounted on an axle, 23, of the loco.- motive, or other vehicle.

The pawl, 24, is pivotally mounted 011 the oscillating arms, and is adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel, 25, which may be keyed upon the axle between said oscillat ing arms. A spring, 26, normally tends to hold the pawl in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, but in order to withdraw said ,pawl when the auxiliary engine is cut out of operation, there is shown a bell crank, 27, mounted on the piston rod,

and having a link, 28, connected to the pawl, 24, the bell crank being actuated by the sliding pin, 29, when the same engage. the end of the guide, 20, to raise the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

In operation, when the steam or other fluid pressure is turned on for starting the auxiliary engine to assist in starting or propelling the locomotive, the piston moves outward against the lever, 1 1, compressing the spring, 18, and actuating the pawl, 24, to turn the ratchet wheel, 25, and the axle. At the end of the outward stroke, the tappet bar, 12, strikes the nut, 10, on valve rod, 9,

and shifts the valve to cut off the supply of fluid to the cylinder and to open the exhaust, as fully described in the prior application above referred to. The spring, 13, then acts through the lever, 14-, to return the piston and swing the pawl backward over the ratchet teeth. The valve rod, 9, is again actuated by the tappet bar, 12, in the opposite direction to admit steam into the cylinder before the piston reaches its extreme innerposition and thus causes the piston to make another outward stroke and again turn the pawl carrier and drive the axle. The auxiliary engine continues tofunction in this manner until the supply of fluid thereto is shut off, whereupon the spring 18 returns the piston to its extreme inner position in which the bell crank 27 is actuated to raise the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the'ratchet whee By mounting the spring, 13, upon the short arm of the lever, its range of movement is reduced, whereby a smaller and more compact spring may be used. It is also more accessible and may be readily adjusted to any desired tension.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a-vehicl'e, the combination with a cylinder, a piston, and valve means for controlling the admission of fluid to said piston, of a spring located outside of said cylinder, and acting in opposition to the fluid pressure to effect the retuinstroke of the piston, and a ratchet mechanism actuated by the piston for driving the vehicle.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with a cylinder, a piston, and valve means for controlling-the admission of fluid to said piston, of a spring located outside of said cylinder, a power multiplying connection between the piston and said spring, and a ratchet connection actuated by the piston for driving the vehicle; I In a vehicle, the combination with a cylinder, a piston, and valve means for con trolling the adn'iission of fluid to said piston, of a lever mounted on the cylinder and having a long arm operativel'y connected with said piston, a spring acting against the short arm of said lever, and a ratchet mechanism actuated by the piston for driving the vehicle.

4. In a vehicle, the combination with a cylinder, a piston, and valve means for controlling the admission of fluid to said piston, of a lever operatively connected at one end with the piston, a spring acting against the other end of the lever, and a ratchet mechanism actuated by the piston for driving the vehicle.

5. In a vehicle, the combination with a cylinder, a piston, and valve means for controlling the admission of fluid to said piston, a lever ton, a spring acting on said lever, an adjusting screw for said spring, and a ratchet mechanism actuated by the piston for driving the vehicle.

6. In a vehicle, the combination with a stationary cylinder, a piston, of an oscillating arm mounted on an axle, a pivot pin connecting said arm and piston, said pin being rigid with said arm and having movement relatively to said piston, a pawl pivoted on said arm, and a ratchet wheel mounted on said axle and driven by said piston throu h said oscillating arm and pawl.

7. n a vehicle, the combination with a cylinder and piston, of double oscillating arms mounted on an axle and actuated by said piston, a lost motion connection between said oscillating arm and piston, a ratchet Wheel rigidly attached to said axle between said arms, and a pawl pivotally mounted on said oscillating arms and engaging said ratchet wheel.

S. In a vehicle, the combination with a cylinder,- piston and piston rod, of an oscillating arm mounted on an axle and pivotally connected to said piston rod, a ratchet wheel mounted on said axle, a pawl pivoted on said oscillating arm and engaging said ratchet wheel, a bell crank lever mounted on said piston rod, and a link connecting said bell crank and pawl for raising the same out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CLEMENT F. STREET.

operatively connected with the pis- A 

